For those who say there’s not enough kindness in the world – we’d like to introduce you to Kaely’s Kindess. It’s fitting we write about this now because September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. It’s so awful that we even need such a month, but it sure helps to know that organizations like Kaely’s Kindness are here – to help.
Founded by Kaely Kwitek in 2012, Kaely’s Kindness provides peer and social support for teenage girls fighting cancer. It can be a lonely thing – as Kaely found out when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, “I was able to find a friend during my first chemo treatment and I wanted to make sure that no one felt alone or isolated at a time where social support is critical when dealing with this awful disease.” And Kaely has been going strong since.
She knows the struggles and challenges – she can answer the questions nobody else even knows to ask. Kaely works to help girls – just like her, “Going back to school for a teenager can be a bit stressful, imagine doing it with no hair and your body in a completely different shape than it was prior to your diagnosis of cancer.”
So to help these very special girls, Kaely’s Kindness steps in and provides back to school shopping – which reduces the stress on the girls and their families,”This year Kaely’s Kindness took 45 teens fighting and surviving cancer back to school shopping providing them each with $200 gift cards,” Kaely says, “Parents of teens diagnosed with cancer often have to miss work due to their daughter’s chemotherapy or hospital stays limiting financial resources making back to school shopping impossible for so many.”
And as great as the money is, of course it is much more than that, “This event is one of my favorites because its an event that everyone truly looks forward to and it is always a memorable day doing what girls love to do, SHOP. After spending the morning shopping the girls and a parent were invited to lunch at Buffalo’s Best Catering also sponsored by Kaely’s Kindness.”
For the girls, it’s such a great time. Time spent with friends – with a support system very few can truly understand. It’s about bonding, laughing, and soaking in every moment. It’s about friendship and memories. It’s about making their journey a little less lonely. It’s about being there for one another – for these special girls – who deserve the world.
If you would like more information on Kaely’s Kindness or to make a donation – please head over to KaelysKindness.org.
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